Typewriting machine



July 18, 1933. w. F. HELMOND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1928 FIG. I.

INVENTOR:

ATTORN Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE 2 WILLIAM F. HELMOND, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEVTv YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to devices for holding cards, envelopes and small work-pieces against the front of a rotatable platen of a dtypewriting ma hj foundation upon which to mount the cardholder. There has also been regularly provided the pin 50, upon which to anchor the cardholder spring. The provision of these parts on a large number of machines 1S burdensome, inasmuch as the card-holders of said patent are used only one portion of the manufactured product.

It is therefore a feature of this invention brackets and pins, so that all purchasers may get the benefit of the card-holder without cost, and the card-holder is so contrived that it is a constant benefit to the user in numerous ways.

It is an object oft-he present invention to equip every Underwoodmachine regularly with card holding means instead of supplying the same as an expensive attachment, as in said patent. The card-holding means is made inexpensive and simple, and one ob ject is to make same of such attractive appearance that it will aid in the selling of the machine. r v It is a feature of the present'i'nvention to increase the duration of the control of the traveling card by the work-holder, andto control .cards of greater length. This is done without increasing the bulk of the cardholder of said patent.

It is another feature of the present inven In said patent the 192s. SeriaLNo. 285,599.

tion to give more clearance or expose more of the work to the operator in the vicinity of the printing point, to accommodate the making of corrections and also to give an uninterrupted view of all, or nearly all, of the last word that has been written, so that the operator will not have to move the carriage back and forth to spell out the last word.

Another feature of the invention is to overcome the objection inherent in the use of any stationary card-holder, which arises from the habit of the operator to swing into use the front central paper-guide finger which is usually provided on the Underwood carriage. This finger is of assistance in guiding a card, but if it is brought into use with the card-holder, as disclosed in said patent, it will collide therewith. It is a feature of the presentinvention to construct the cardholder so as to dispense with the use of such sufficiently separated to disclose the entire last word that has been written, and to guide long cards and envelopes, and having the other advantages above mentioned. These card-holders have independent springs, and

hence each presses independently against the platen, so that the card is held firmly at two widely separated locations. The spring may accordingly be made relatively weak, and

either cardholder may be easily pulled forwardly away from the platen when not required, as only a single weak spring has to be overcome instead oftwo strong springs,

, as in saidpatent.

'The invention obviously affords a wider range of manipulabiiity and capacity than is alforded by the card-holder of said patent,

' and has other obvious advantages. The card tionary wing-scale that shifts up and down with the platen.

For the purpose of cheapening them and simplifying them to the required point, the device is reduced practically to two parts, namely, the struck-up bracket which is secured onto the shifting bar of the Underwood front scale, and the card-holder itself, which is also str ck-up from sheet-metal.

There is also employed a spring, which releasably retains the card-holder upon the bracket and also holds the card-holder either hack in working position or forward out of working position.

There is aflorded good visibility at the printing line, and the device is of cheap, simple, rugged, compact and accessible construction, effective to hold small, stiff work-pieces securely in place upon the platen, while not obstructing in any way the general operation of the, machine.

The device presents easily mountable compact card-holding units, each unit including a. simply stampedholder-frame or bracket having forwardly-extending upper side portions, in which tomount loosely the workholder or finger proper. Notches in the upper sides of said bracket provide hearings in which to carry lateral projections or gudgeons'of said swingable finger. Lower opposed notches are also provided in the mount or bracket. to receive loosely a bolt, rung or cross-piece to form an anchorage for a loosely connected spring, which is tensioned between said finger and said rung, to hold these two elements on their seats. The spring is confined within a downwardly-extending cutaway of the fingers, and no solid connections are needed between the elements of the cardholding unit. 7

After the card-holding finger with its depending spring is placed upon the bracket, the cross-piece or rung at the lower end of the spring may be used as handle to pull the spring downwardly and snap it in place in notches provided in the lower edges of the bracket sides, thereby tensioning the spring.

The cardholdingfingermay, when manipulatcd for operative or inoperative position, engage fore or aft upon said rung, to be locked in either position. Hence this method of locking does not require additional elements.

()ther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation with parts omitted, showing'the work-gage and holders mounted in j uxtaposition to the platen.

Figure. 2 is a vertical transverse section with some parts omitted, showingthe workgage and holde in co-operative position with the platen.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing the holder swung away from the platen.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the holders assembled and mounted on its base, in working position.

Figure 5 is a perspective, showing the parts in Figure 4 disassembled.

Figure 6 shows a detached ca'rdholding unit and indicates the novel manner of readily assembling the spring thereon.

Levers 13 actuate shift-frame 14 in a wellknown manner, to raise or lower a frame 15, carrying a platen 16. Upon a type-bar segment 17, are mounted spring-brackets 18, carrying rollers 19 having peripheral flanges 20. The shift-frame 14 has pivots 21 on which are fulcrumed a floating frame 22, normally held on said pivots by springs 23, as shown. The floating frame 22 has portions of its top bent up to form flanges 24. Portions of said flanges from tongues 25 having slots 26, over which travel the flanges 20 on rollers 19. Other portions of flanges 24 engage screws 27 which hold spring-brackets 28, attached by rivets 29 to a work-gage 30, graduated along its upper edge to form a scale. By means of oversized slots.31, in thespring-brackets 2 8, the worlcgage 30 is adjustable vertical or horizontally. The flanges 24 also engage screws 32, by which is attached the novel h0lder-frame 33, bent to form forwardly projecting sides 34. In said sides 34 are hearings in the'form of V-shaped cutouts 35, each open at the top to form prongs 36 on each side. In the bo tom edges of sides34 are inverted cutouts 37, forming bearings. Normally resting in the latter are bearing-ends 38 of a pin or rung, which may have the form of a-roller 39, said bearing-ends projecting from shoulders on the rung. Said shoulders prevent the rung from, sliding through the cutouts 37. The rung has near its center a circumferential groove 40,.which retains the lowerhooked end of a coil-spring 41. The upper end of spring 41 is hooked through a" hole in the work-holding finger 42. [The lower part of the latter is formed into two legs 43, by means of an intermediate inverted cutout 44. This cutout gives clearness to the spring 41, permitting it to swing during a forward or backward canting of said finger. Also to give clearance to said coil-spring'41 there is provided a cutout 45in the rear wall of the holder-frame 33.

From each side edge of the linger 42, above movement.

In order to find room for the device in the compact machine, the bearing 38 for the rung 39 is located at a point in the bracket not far below the bearing for the gudgeon 46. Owing to the closeness of these .two bearings, an extremely powerful spring would'naturally be required, to hold the finger 42 against the work, Figure 2, inasmuch as said bearings are so close one to the other that the spring would be but slightly distended in swinging from eitherextreme to a midway position. Moreover, the finger'would be apt to stand in its midway or dead-center position. Provision is, however, made whereby the spring is distended abnormally andconsiderably in passing through the midway position. To this end, the finger is extended downwardly at 43 beyond the gudgeon 46, and reaches to a point suitable for engaging the roll or rung 39, to force it down. Thereby the finger 42' stretches and tensions thespring '41 veryv much as the finger passes through its deadcenter or vertical position. Thus the spring receives extra power for snapping the finger to either front or backposition, and the liability of the finger remaining in the'midway position is eliminated. Moreover a weaker spring can be employed than would be the case if the extensions 43 were to be eliminated. The distended spring also tends to snap up the rung 39, thereby forcing backward or forward rotation of the finger, so that the latter is acted upon in two ways, one way being in the direction of the longitudinal pull of the spring, and the other way being due to the camming effect produced by the rung upon the finger as the spring strains said rung upwardly. Thus the spring not only attaches the rung to the bracket, andv attaches the finger also to the bracket, but it also holds the finger forcibly against the platen, and by reason of its extra tension at the dead-center point of the finger, it acts in a lively manner to throw the finger either forwardly or backwardly, so that it will not rest at dead center.

The upper portion of each finger 42' is preferably of triangular shape, with a triangular cutout 47. The top of said finger is not only rounded at the tip, but also has its apex bent forwardly as at 48. This forward curve lessens the sliding friction between said holder-plate and the surface of the worksheet or member 49, and also facilitates the grasping of said holder-plate when. desirable to pull the same away from the platen.

The coil-spring 41 is easily and readily removable and replaceable. To remove the same it is only necessaryto lift the finger 42 out of the V-shaped' bearings 35, and when the gudgeons 46 clear the prongs 36, the fin ger is swung forward and down slackening the spring and permitting the attached rung 39 to drop out of its open bearing 37.

A spring of less or greater tension may now be readily substituted.

It will be seen that gage and holding elements are preferably mounted on a one-piece member which is fioatingly connected to the case-shift frame. This mounting maintains a fixed relation between said elements and the platen, whether the latter be in upper or lower case-shift position. The floating frame or member is guided in its vertical movements by the plurality of flanged rollers projecting into slots provided on said frame. These rollers are carried on spring-brackets ordinarily attached to the type-bar segment. This permits the rollers to yieldinglymaintain the gage and holders against the platen at any of its vertical positions. At the same time a peripheral flange on the rollers by engaging the sides of the slots prevents any movement of the floating frame lengthwise ofthe platen.

The downward pull of the springs 41 holds thevgudgeons in the bottom angleor fulcrum of'the V-shaped cutouts. The pins 39 hold down and are held up by the springs, which are attached to the fingers above their gudgeons. Said fingers extendabove the points of attachment of the springs. Said brackets are preferably formed of single strips of metal cut out and stamped up to the proper contour to afford light simple members easily manufactured.

The finger 42 can readily be swung back against the platen,,or to'a forward position clear of the platen. After passing the dead center, the spring pulls the finger to either operative or inoperative position. During a reciprocative movement of the holder-plate its legs over-ride the pin, to give a snap to the finger.

The two widely separated small fingers afford better visibility of the work than the patented single large work-holder.

The two independent holders make it practicable to hold onthe platen a narrow card or label. i

. It has been seen that the work-holding unit includes a notched bracket into which a holder is inserted. The holder has pivotal bearings in the upper notches of said bracket which enable it to be swung forward away from the platen to an ineffective position or to be swung back towards the platen to an effective position. The holder is held in either position by a double acting spring which is fastened at one end to said holder and at its other end to a roller mounted in lower notches in the bracket. The-roller is formed with a central groove in which the end of the spring is seated to retain it in center position. The spring, being so fastened, tends to pull the roller upward and simultaneously pull the holder downward, thereby retaining both the roller and holder in their respective notches in the bracket.

" port located in juxtaposition to said platen, a

located uponfthe holder-frame 33, and the spring mounted in a novel manner as mentloned above and as clearly indicated in Figured.

Variations may be resorted to within the 'scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a platen, of a support located in juxtaposition to said platen,

a bracket on said support, upper and lower ,notches in said bracket, a holder detachably resting in said upper notches, a roller mounted in said lower'notches, and a spring for retaining said holder and roller in said notches to be depressible by the holder against the tension of the spring, said notches being open to permit insertion or removal of said roller and said holder. 7

3. The combination with a platen, of a support located in juxtaposition to said platen,

a bracket on said support, a work-holding member extending down into said bracket, arms on said member extending through openings in said bracket to formpivots upon which said member may be" swung to an .operative or an inoperative position, a yieldable rung mounted in said bracket, and a spring effective to hold said rung in place,

to prevent accidental displacement of said member, sa1d swinging work-holdlng memfiber having means to force said rung to yield against the pressure of said spring, as the work-holding member is swung forward and backward.

4. The combination with a platen, of a .isupport located in juxtaposition to said platen, a bracketon said support, a workholdlng member extending down into sa1d bracket, arms on said member extending detachably through openmgs 1n sa1d bracket,- saidopenings forming pivotal bearings upon which said member maybe swung to an operative or an'inoperative position,'a rung detachably mounted in said bracket, and a spring effective to hold sa1d rung and. said member attached to the bracket, said spring also being effective to hold said-member in either its operative or inoperative position.

1 5. The combination with a platen, of a sup port located in juxtaposition to said platen,

a bracket on said support, aydetachahle work-holding member extending down into said bracket and movable bodily up and-down thereon,arms on said memberextendingdetachablythrough openingsin said bracket to form pivots upon which said member may be swung to anoperative or an inoperative position, a roller yieldably mounted in said bracket to engage said member, and a spring connected to said roller and to said member for retaining both roller and member in said bracket, said spring co -operative with said roller to enable the roller to resist the swinging' backor forth of the work-holding membQT'LtO prevent accidental displacement of said work-holding member.

6. The combination with a platen, of bracket located in juxtaposition to said platen, a spring-pressed work-holding member having legs extending down inside said bracket, projections on said legs extending through said bracket to form a fulcrum whereonsaid member may swing from an operative to an inoperative position, the platen limiting the movement of said member when swung to its operative position, and means on said legs engaging said bracket to limit the movement of said member when swung to its inoperative position.

7. The combination with a platen, of a work liolder, a mount in which said workh-older is pivoted, said work-holder extending from its pivot towards the platen, a spring thrusting said work-holder down, an obstacle provided in said mount and in the path of said'work-holder, to be forced down by the work-holder in its forward and backward swinging movements, and a stop to arrest the work-holder'in its. forward position, said spring effective to retain the work-holder either in itsforward position against said stop, .or in its rear effective position; the spring being connected to said obstacle and tensioned thereby and tending to restrain the work-holder from surmounting and passing said obstacle. i

8. The combinationwith a platen, ofa swinging work-holder having trunnions projecting therefrom, a mount having opposite sides providedwith. bearings in which said trunnions work, said work-holder extending towards the platen and being movable up and down in said mount, a down wardly-tensioned spring connectedto said work-holder above thetru-nnions, anda yieldable rung in said mount, said work-holder having a projection below its'trunnions, andsaid rung being in the path of said projection to form a yield able obstacle when the work-holder ispressed forwardly or 'backwardly on its trunnions, said spring tending to restrain said. work holder' from mounting and passing sai d rung in either direction, and also effective to hold said work-holder back against the work.

9. The combination with a platen, of a work-holder having trunnions projecting therefrom, a mount having opposite sides provided with bearings in which said trunnions work. said work-holder extending towards the platen. a downwardly-tensioned spring connected to said work-holder above the trunnions, and a rung'in said mount, said work-holder having a projection'below its trunnions, and said" rung being in the path of said projection to form an obstacle when the work-holder is pressed forwardly or backwardly on its trunnions, said spring tending to restrain said work-holder from mounting and passing said rung in either direction, and also effective to hold said work-holder back against the work, said mount having in said sides open slots in which said rung is detachably retained by said spring.

10. The combination with a platen, of a work-holder having trunnions projecting therefrom, a mount having opposite sides provided with open bearings in which said trunnions are detachably seated, said work-holder extending towards the platen, a spring connected to said work-holder, and a rung in said mount, said work-holder having a-projection below its trunnions, and said rung being in the path 'of said projection to form an obstacle when the work-holder is pressed forwardly or backwardly on its trunnions, said spring tending to restrain said workholder from mounting and passing said rung in either direction and also effective to hold said work-holder back against the work, said spring having the form of adouble-acting draw spring connected at its upper end to said work-holder, and the latter being removably retained upon said mount by said spring.

11. The combination with a platen, of a detachable work-holder having trunnions, a mount provided with hearings in which said trunnions work, said work-holder extending towards the platen, a spring connected to said work-holder above the trunnions, and a de-' tachable rung in said mount, said work-holder having a projection below its trunnions, and said rung being in the path of said projection to form an obstacle when the workholder is pressed forwardly or backwardly on its trunnions, said spring tending to restrain said work-holder from mounting and passing said rung in either direction, and also efl'ective to hold said work'holder back against the work, said spring having the form of a double-acting draw-spring connected at its upper end to said work-holder, said trunnions projecting from said work-holder, saidbearings open at the top to permit withdrawal of said work-holder from said mount, and said spring effective to hold both said w-orkho1der and said rung attached to said mount.

12. The combination with a platen, of a worleliolder, a mount upon which said workholder is pivotally supported, and from which it extends upwardly to press back the work, a spring connected to said work-h older, and means provided upon said mount to form a yieldable obstacle in the path of said workholder, said spring anchored at-its lower end upon said obstacle and tending to cause the obstacle to restrain said work-holder from mounting and passing said obstacle,and also effective to hold said work-holder back agalnst the work.

13. The combination with a platen, of a swinging work ho'ldena mount upon which said'work-holder 1S plvotally supported and upon which 1t can move up and down, and

from which it extends upwardly'to press back ing to cause the obstacle to restrain said workholder from riding over said obstacle, and also effective to hold said work-holder back against the work, said obstacle in the form of a depressible rung which is detac-hably held upon said mount by means of said spring.

14. The combination of a swinging workholder, a mount upon which said work-holder ispivotally supported and upon which it can move up and down, a spring connected to said work-holder, and means provided upon said mount to form a yieldable obstacle in the path of said work-holder, said spring anchored to said obstacle and tending to cause the obstacle to restrain said work-holder from riding over said yieldable obstacle, and also efifective to hold said work-holder againstthe work, said work-holder and said obstacle being held attached to said mount by means of said spring.

15. The combination with a platen, of a work-holder, amount having open bearing upon which said work-holder is pivotally and a c removably supported, and from which it extends upwardly to press back the work, a bodily-detachable spring connected to said work-holder, and a rung provided upon said mount to form an obstacle in the path of said work-holder, said spring anchored at its lower end to said rung and tending to restrain said work-holder from mounting and passing rung, and also effective to hold said workholder'back against the work, said workholder, said rung and said spring being removable from said mount, and said'spring holding both the work-holder and the rung attached to said mount.

'16. A four-part attachment for holding work upon the front of atypewriter-platen,

' including a mount having sides formed with means to enable said finger when swung upon its trunnions to depress said anchorage and thereby tension the spring, said anchorage reacting forwardly or backwardly against said finger to aid in swinging the finger upon its trunnions.

WILLIAM F. HELMON D. 

